Improvement in letter-packages



tant' @anni @than JAMES vv. .eUnN-s, or MEDWAY, oHI'o. y Letters Patent No. 83,600, dated November 3, 1868.

IIMPRQ'VEMIENT IN' LETTER-PACKAGES.

The Schedule referred` to .in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it ma/y con/cern Be it known that I, VJAMES W. BURNs, of Medway,

in the county of Clark, and State of Ohio, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Letter-Hold- This invention relates to an improved device for holding letters while being transmitted through the mails,V

and is intended to supersede the now laborious and expensive process o 'wi-'apping and tying. It consists, principally, ot' two parts, of pasteboard or other suitable material, properly connected by rubber cords or bands, by which arrangement a pouch-like receptacle is made, in which the letters are placed, and upon one side of which is suitably attached 4a number of directions, papers, or labels, so arranged that when the journey of-the holder, with .its contents, is completed, the used label can be easily removed, and a fresh sheet be ex posed ready for the new direction The details of construction will be fully described hereinafter.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved holder;

Figure 2, aplan view;

Iilgure 3, a side elevation; and

Figure 4, a detached end view, showing a different method of attaching the direction-labels.

In the drawings, the same letters referto identical parts in all the iigures. v

A and B represent` the two parts of the holder, which are connected at a a and b b by the rubber cords, as shown, and also at a b' by the rubber band C.

D represents a retaining-cord, also of rubber, which is fastened to the part B, and'isused to secure the ends of the holder together, afterthe letters have been placed therein.

E represents a pile otdirection-papers orlabels, which are secured to the part H .bylneans of the fasteners e e.

Another method of seeming these papers in place is shown in iig. 4. x represents auarrow strip of metal, securely fastened to the part A, at o', as shown. This stripis then, laid over the papers, and its ee end is thrust through an opening or slot in part A, and bent up against it, as clearly shown inthe gnre. When all the papers have been used, the fasteners ofeither form may be unloosed', and new paper inserted.

The manner of using my improved device is as follows: l

The holder being held in the left hand, the retaining-cord D is pulled oli' with the right, thus leavingthe parts A B free to be opened Vby the fingers. The letters are then thrust in, and the cord D replaced. It is now only necessary to write the proper direction upon the paper E, and the, holder is ready for the bag.

When the desired destination is reached, the letters can be removedin a moment, it` being simply necessary to throw ed' the'retainng-cord. This operation also frees one end of the papers E, so that the upper one can can be easily seized and torn on". The holder is now again ready lfor use. It will be at once seen that,` by the use of my arrangement, much time is saved, besides paper and string. The holder can be cheaply constructed, and will last a long time.

I am aware that bill-holders have been constructed of two parts connected by rubber. This form, in itself, I do not intend to claim. I simply Wish to cover my device as a whole. Y

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

The direction-papers E, when attached, as described,

by the fastenings e, or the band x, and combined with the parts A B, as and for the purpose set forth1 This specification, signed and witnessed, this day of 186 JAlYEElS WM. BURNS; Witnessesx J. W. BEADLE, a FREDERIC THoMAs. 

